Concentrating apparatus.



E. S. MOKINLAY. GONGENTIIATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 31. 1908.

Patnted Mar.15,1910.

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EDW ARD S. MGKINLAY, OF OAK CREEK, COLORADO.

GONCENTRATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January a1, 1908. v Serial no. 413,701. 7

in an inclined movable table over which the material to be separatedis caused to flow and be separated thereon into grades according to its specific gravity, and discharged therefrom into separate receptacles.

The invention further consists in imparting to the table rapid vibratory motion at the same time that it is moved whereby the separation is accelerated.

The invention further consists in the novel devices and mechanisms whereby the desired results are accomplished, all as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in -the claims.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompan ing drawings forming a part of this speelfication. I do not desire, however, to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, and it will be understood that many changes of detail and of arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical transverse section, illustrating one form of the apparatus embodying my invention. F i 2 is an enlar ed sectional detail illustratlng one form 0 the table support. Fig. 3 is a top plan view partially broken away of the form of concentrator table illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail showing an alternate form of table support; Fig. 5 IS an enlarged detail view showin a modification of the hammer, and hammer 0- Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View showing amodified form of shaft support.

Referrin to the drawings, A represents aconical ta le, preferably formed of smooth sheet metal. This table is mounted in a horizontal position on the vertical shaft 0. The

- shaft C is rotatable in suitable bearings b and N. ()n the frame D the belt pulley C is provided and may be used for rotating the shaft if desired.

The s out or chute E is provided, by means 0 which the material to be separated is supplied to the table at a point somewhat removed from 'the axial center. Immediately below the outer edges of the table A, I provide a plurality of curved receiving troughs. In thedrawings I have shown three of these troughs, marked B. B, B but it will be understood that any desired number may be used. These troughs are slightly inclined toward their discharge ends a, o and a As an aid to the separation of material I provide the steam or pneumatic striker H. This striker is mounted upon the frame and may be of any usual or preferred form. It may be described broadly, however, as having a cylinder with suitable ports and a piston within the cylinder adapted to be rapidly reciprocated, carrying with it the hammer K as shown in Fig. 1. This hammer consists of a pivotally attached disk or cylinder. The annular anvil ring K is secured to the under side of the plate A, and is adapted to receive the blows of the hammer K". In the preferred form of my machine, as shown in Fig. 3, the striker H is mounted so that the hammer K will deliver its blows in a direction at an acute angle to the ring K. The pivotal mounting of the hammer K prevents undue friction against the ring K, but at the same time the angularity of the blows tends to give a rotary motion to the ring and the table to which it is attached. In fact, in many cases the table may be driven by the hammer alone without the aid of a belt on the wheel C. An alternate position of mounting for the hammer II is 'shown in Fig. In this position the hammer strikes radially and there is no tendency to rotate the table. \Vith the striker acting radially there is also less friction between the hammer and the ring K, and the hammer may be made in- ]Patented Mar. 15, 19M).

tegral with the piston rod, as shown at H.

In order to permit greater freedom of vibration of the table A, I connect it to the shaft C by means of the frame work K, in the form shown, in the drawings. This framework consists of a number of radially extending braces and an inner annular cage surrounding the shaft. The framework, as a whole, rests on the anti'friction balls 6, which. in turn, are supported on the collar L, which 'is rigidly secured to the shaft C. Between the shaft and the cage of the framework K, I provide cushions, preferably two innumber, of rubber or similar material.

same time, the cushions permit the table to be knocked slightly out of its central positlon by the striker H but immediately return it to its central position. It will be understood that the balls 6 merely serve to prevent friction of vibration between the frame K and the flange L, there being, of course, no relative rotation of these two parts.

Another device for permitting the vibratory movement of the table isshown in Fig. 6. In this construction the bearing I) is made a ball step bearing having the balls e. A rubber cushion -I surrounds the shaft and serves to hold it in its central position. At the same time, this cushion makes it possible fog1 the shaft to vibrate slightly with the ta e.

My machine is adapted to be used for either a wet or a dry process of separation. To facilitate the wet process I provide the circular split tube l which is connected to any suitable water supply by means of the pipe F and the valve F The hood G is provided for use with the dry process. This hood is angular in form and is connected to a suitable suction fan G The receiving part of the hood is made adjustable sothat it may approach closely to the'plate A, but may be lifted to giveample clearance when a wet process is used. The space within the,

hood G is entirely inclosed by means of the walls G in this way all dust-is entirely confined and cannot escape into the surrounding atmosphere. When a wet process is used, mineral pulp is supplied to the table A by means of the chute E. If suflicient water is a, plied with the mineral from the chute, no further water need be added. If, on the other hand, the pul is too thick, so that it will not flow readi y, an additional amount of water may be introduced by means of the tube F. The diluted pulp flows gradually downward over the conical surface of the table. The action of the water, together with gravity and the vibratory movement of the table, causes the lighter articles to move more rapidly. The table is rotated slowl at a constant s eed, the speed being so a justed that all of t e lighter particles of a certain grade will reach the outer edge of the table at points above one of the spouts, as for instance B The heavier particles of an intermediate grade will move less rapidl toward the outer edge of the table'and wi'l reach the outer edge when above the trough B. The pure mineral being heavier than either of the foreeaneea going grades wilhmove still less rapidly and will not reach the outer edge of the table until above the trough B. In this way, there will be a continuous separation, the lighter particles being removed from the outlet cf, the middlings from the outlet at and the mineral from the outlet a The operation of the machine for a dry process isvery similar to that for the wet process. The pulverized material is supplied from the chute E and distributes itself from the plates in grades according to its specific gravity and of the vibratory movement of the plate. The different grades of material are removed as before through the outlets a a and a The hood G prevents any of the finer material from escaping into the atmosphere, as dust.

I am aware of the fact that in various screens and concentrating devices, use has been made of cams and springs for imparting movements to the table or sieve.

The purpose of these cams and springs was to produce a relatively prolonged motion of the table in one direction and an equally long one in the opposite direction. That is to say, they were intended to roject the material step by step over the sur aces of the table or screen. lit was practically impossible to produce more than a few such movements per minute, even with rapidly revolving parts. But with the device which I employ I produce movements which are of the nature of a constant trembling rather than prolonged reciprocation, and in this respect 'I believe it is, in this art, entirely novel. I

am further aware that it has been proposed to lift weights vertically above a concen trating table and let them drop a few times per minute at points near the edge on lines parallel to the vertical axis. But in such a case the results attained would be materially difi'erent from those attained by imparting to the table the exceedingly rapid impacts which I provide. The movement of the table at each blow is exceedingly short, it being of the nature of a throb rather than a marked reciprocation. The effect of this is merely to jostle the particles of different specific gravity and insure that they shall move a minute distance downward or outward, the blows causing, not so much an ad vance of each particle as a separation of it from those'of different specific gravities, which at successive instants are adjacent to it.

'What 1 claim is:

'1. In a mechanism for separating materials, an inclined rotary table adapted to receive the material which is to be separated, a series of receptacles for the various separated materials, means for actuatin said table relative to said receptacles {UK a reciprocatin impacting device arranged to strike sai table with rapid direct blows,

table, substantially as set forth.

ecneaa 2. In an apparatus for separating materials, the combination of a rotary table having a continuous substantially conical and. smooth surface, a series of stationary receptacles arranged near the ed e of said table to receive the different gra es of materials successively, and an impacting device arranged to strike said table with rapid di- 4 rect blows, said im acting device acting in a plane substantially parallel with the surface of the table,'substantially as set forth.

3..In an apparatus for separating material, the combination of a rotary receiving table, a resilient cushioning device acting to centralize the table, and a reciprocating im-' pacting device arranged to strike theztabl'e with rapid direct b ows, substantially as set forth. I

4. In an apparatus for separating material, the combination of a rotary conical smooth table, means for supplying material tobe separated to the table at a point adjacent the center thereof, means for receiving the separated material from the periphery of the table, and an impacting device arranged to strike the table with rapid direct blows and thereby impart to it a constant trembling motion, substantially as set forth.

5. A concentrator for ores and similar products comprising-a rotatable table havmg an inclined material supporting surface along which all of the material moves radially outward, a vertical shaft for the table, means for yieldingly connecting the table to the shaft, a series of separate receptacles arranged around the delivery end of the table, and the impacting device disconnected from the table and arranged to deliver its impacts to the-table, substantially as described.

6. In concentrators or separators for ores and similar products, a rotatable conical table adapted to receive a mass of several se arable reducedmaterials and to permit sa1d materialto move downward across the line of movement of the table to cause said several masses to separate, a' vertical shaft upon which the table is yieldably and elastically mounted, means for conducting each separated mass separately from said table,

a series of se arated receptacles arranged around the 'de ivery ed e o the table to receive the various grades of material pro-' gressivel accordingto the gravitation of said gra es, and an impacting device adapt ed to impart vibratory motion to said table, substantially as set forth.

7 In concentrators and separators for ores and similar products, a rotatablecon ical table, a vertical shaft, an elastic support between the shaft and the table, and an impacting device disconnected from the table and arranged to deliver its impacts to the table in a non-radial direction, whereby a rotary and vibratory motion is communicated simultaneously to the table, substantially asdescribed. Y

8. In concentrators and separators for ores and similar products, a rotatable conical table, a vertical shaft, an elastic support between the shaft and the table, an annular member rigid with the table, and an impacting device disconnected from the table, consisting of a cylinder, a reciprocating piston, and means for actuating the piston, said piston being arranged to deliver. its strokes on the perimetenof the annular member non-radially, whereby the tablejs rotated and 'avibratory motion communicated thereto, substantially as described.

' 9. In concentrators and separators for ores and similar products, a rotatable conical table, a supporting shaft for the table; elastic cushions between the table and its shaft, a series of separated receptacles around the delivery ed 'e of the table adapted to receive material gravity, and an impacting device disconnected from the table'and arranged to deliver its impacts to the table to impart vibratory motion thereto, substantially as set forth.

10. In concentrators and separators for 5 ores and similar products, a rotary table, a

laterally yielding and elastic support for the table as a whole, and an impacting mechanism disconnected from the table and arran ed to deliver .abrupt blows or impacts to t e table, substantially as described,

11. In concentrators and separators for ores and similar products, a rotary table, a yielding and elastic support for the table, and an impacting mechanism disconnected from the table arran ed to deliver its impacts or blows on t e table non-radially thereto, whereby the table is rotated and a vibratory motion simultaneously communicated thereto, substantially as described.

12. In a mechanismfor separatin materials, the combination of a substantia 1y cons according to their ical table, means for imp'artin motion to i the same, afeeder for delivermg material to be separated near the middle and higher part-of the table, a circular hood situated.

with its entrance opening around the table and above the same, and means for producing an exhaust in said hood 'to remove lighter materials from the table, said hood being extensible to adjust its reoeivin opening relative to the table, substantia ly as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD s. MQKINLAY 'Witnesses: l

J. H. Bounouon's, L. P. MILLER. 

